Information note: Contribution of the JRC Working Program 2016 to MAES
This document summarizes the ongoing research activities of the JRC Institute of Environment and
Sustainability on mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services which can be of interest for
MAES. They are organised per contributing unit.
A complete overview of the JRC work program including all projects, work packages and deliverables is
available here:
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/sites/default/files/mawp-2016-2017.pdf
H.01 Water resources unit (MAES contacts: Bruna Grizzetti, Camino Liquete)
Freshwater ecosystems
MARS (FP7) and EURO-FRESHWATERS (contact: Alberto Pistocchi)
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JRC has developed a methodology for the biophysical assessment and economic valuation of
water ecosystem services. The report, published in 2015, can be downloaded at
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC94681/lbna27141enn.pdf
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A peer review article has been submitted linking more explicitly the methodology to water
resource management and river basin management plans provided for by the Water Framework
Directive (Grizzetti et al.).
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In the MARS project, the proposed approach will be applied in 16 European catchments by
research teams of different countries across Europe. Results are foreseen after July 2016.
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At the European scale, we are working on the mapping and assessment of some key services of
freshwater ecosystems, linking them to the multiple pressures and ecological status of water
bodies. This work may support the implementation of both water policies and the Biodiversity
Strategy. First results are expected after July 2016.
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The values of ecosystem services provided by lakes and reservoirs have been examined through
a meta-analysis based on an expanded world-wide database. The study assesses the socioeconomic values attributable to the hydrological, biogeochemical and ecological functions
provided by these water bodies. Preliminary results for the global study are available (Reynaud
et al., scientific paper submitted), while a specific analysis for European lakes will be complete
by July 2016
OpenNESS (FP7)
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We are analyzing how the ecosystem services concepts have been used in the River Basin
Management Plans of the Water Framework Directive in five case studies in Europe, located in
Italy, United Kingdom, Romania, Belgium and Portugal. Preliminary results are available, final
outcomes are expected by summer 2016.
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A pilot study has been conducted by the JRC, in collaboration with the SME IRIDRA, on the
valuation of an innovative green infrastructure for water pollution control (located in Northern
Italy) using ecosystem services concepts and local stakeholders involvement. The work includes
a multi-criteria decision analysis (non-monetary valuation) of the services provided by the
infrastructure and a contingent valuation (monetary valuation). This research shows how a
nature-based solution outperforms a conventional grey solution in terms of benefits/ecosystem
services offered. Final results are available and will be presented at OpenNESS-OPERAsEuropean Commission Policy Day, organized in Brussels on 1st March 2016. Two scientific articles
have been submitted on this research (Liquete et al. and Reynaud et al.).
Marine ecosystems
SEACOAST (contact: Francesca Somma)
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We are developing a modelling approach to map 6 marine ecosystem services in the
Mediterranean Sea, showing their temporal trends. The outcomes are expected for the end
2016.
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There is an upcoming JRC technical report by Tempera et al. (EUR 27237 EN) focused on the
spatial distribution of marine ecosystem service capacity in EU waters.

JRC contributed to two chapters dealing with marine ecosystem services and marine ecosystem
services mapping in the Mapping Ecosystem Services book coordinated by the H2020 project
ESMERALDA.
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JRC has been invited and plan to participate on an inter-institutional meeting to develop EU
Ecosystem Accounts on marine systems (March 2016).
H.03 Forest Resources and Climate unit (MAES contact: Jose Barredo)
FISE Forest information and harmonization
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Implementation and launching of the Forest Ecosystem Services module of FISE
Dissemination of the EUR Report (EUR 27751 EN): Mapping and assessment of forest
ecosystems and their services - Applications and guidance for decision making in the framework
of MAES.
PEGASUS (H2020 project) (in collaboration with H.04) see also next unit.
PESETA III Project (Administrative arrangement with DG CLIMA)
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Results of PESETA III Project (CLIMA) on climate-driven habitat loss and options for adaptation
H.04 Monitoring agricultural resources (MAES contact: Maria Luisa Paracchini)
CAP-ISIME
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Support to ENV B.2 service contract “to support follow-up actions to the mid-term review of the
EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 in relation to target 3A – Agriculture”
Preparation of the book “Re-connecting natural and cultural capital - Contributions from science
and Policy”, Maria Luisa Paracchini – Pier Carlo Zingari Editors
Finalisation of Deliverable 6-7 under the BES-2015 project, on identification of contribution of
agricultural lands and forestry to the establishment of the Green Infrastructure. A study case on
Lombardy Region. In collaboration with H03.
Agroecosystems restoration at EU level: study on prioritising areas for EFA implementation
QUESSA (FP7 project)
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Preparation of heat maps on pollination and biological control at European scale
PEGASUS (H2020 project) – in collaboration with H03
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Review of approaches and datasets to categorise and map Public Goods and Ecosystem Services
delivered by agriculture and forestry at EU level
Preparation of a database of public goods and ecosystem services and an operational
classification system of the relationships between different types of public goods/ecosystem
services and agriculture and forestry systems in different biogeographic, social and economic
contexts across Europe
H.05: Land Management Unit (MAES contact: Gregoire Dubois, Ole Ostermann)
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Continued support to the ESP-Visualisation Tool (maps for ecosystem services)
Support to KIP-INCA
Luca Montanarella is co-chairing the IPBES Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment which is
proceeding quite well. A First Order Draft will be available soon.
MAES-Soil related activities are directly managed by DG ENV.B1 unit (contact Jacques Delsalle).
H.08 Sustainability assessment unit (MAES contact: Joachim Maes, Grazia
Zulian)
TERMOD_INVEST: TERMOD_INVEST is the project which hosts all the developments related to the
territorial modelling based on LUISA. MAES related deliverables are:
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Joint EEA-JRC assessment of ecosystem condition and ecosystem services;
Finalisation of the MAES Urban pilot and delivery of the MAES urban pilot report;
KIP-INCA: JRC contribution to KIP-INCA (development of case studies for physical and monetary
flow accounts of ecosystem services). H.08 is leading the JRC contribution to INCA with support
from H.05
ESMERALDA (H2020)
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ESMERALDA supports the implementation of MAES in the member states; JRC is actively
involved and oversees the project as deputy-coordinator of the project. Project updates and
deliverables are communicated in the MAES working group meetings.
E-Book on mapping ecosystem services (editors: Joachim Maes and Benjamin Burkhard, Pensoft
as publisher)
OpenNESS (FP7)
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Task 3.3: Methods for comparing ES supply with biodiversity conservation objectives to inform
sustainable management practices: Outcomes of this task need to support the implementation
of target 2 of the Biodiversity Strategy.